Ethnic and geographic variation in stroke mortality trends.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Magnitude, geographic, and ethnic variation in trends in stroke within the United States require updating for health services and health disparities research. METHODS Data for stroke were analyzed from the US mortality files for 1999 to 2007. Age-adjusted death rates were computed for non-Hispanic African Americans and European Americans aged ≥45 years. RESULTS Between 1999 and 2007, the age-adjusted death rate per 100,000 for stroke declined both in African Americans and in European Americans of both genders. Among African American females, European American females, and European American males, rates declined by at least 2% annually in every division. Among African American males, rates declined little in the East and West South Central divisions where disparities in trends by urbanization level were found. CONCLUSIONS Between 1999 and 2007, the rate of decline in stroke mortality varied by geographic region and ethnic group.